Fun, and a good attitude, describes Kim Walsh a breast cancer survivor from Alta, Iowa. Kim has been cancer free for 9+ years. This December it will be 10 years.
Kim recalls the day she had her annual mammogram and was called in to discuss something that was seen on the scan back in December of 2008. She had just turned 50 that Fall. She mentioned she had been called in before so she wasn’t too concerned until the Doctor started talking about lumpectomy, radiation and chemotherapy. She said early on “I’m going in with a mindset that life is good!”
She remembers her first time walking through the doors of the BVRMC Oncology & Infusion Center. She wondered “What is this going to be like?”. Kim remembers she was told that her hair would fall out about 12-14 days after her first treatment and this rang true as on the 13th day she was walking and scratched her head and low and behold she had a small clump of hair in her hand. As this can be traumatic for some, Kim took it in her stride. She remembered that her boss had a couple of boys and that he buzzed their heads with clippers. So she called him one day to ask him to stop in and buzz her hair off. After a few trips around the block, her boss finally came and confessed that he was worried about cutting her hair. Kim made him feel at ease by saying “It’s just hair and it will grow back.” Afterwards she posed for a photo with her boss, who likewise didn’t have hair and she said “We look like twins!”. “For me, in that moment it was ok”. The next day Kim wore a hat to work and asked her co-workers if they were ready and then she ripped off her hat and said “It’s the new me!”.
Kim had gotten a few wigs in different lengths and colors and would wear different ones to work. One day she was a red head and another a blond with short hair! She had a lot of fun with that! In fact some of the patrons wouldn’t recognize her on those days.
When asked about the BVRMC Oncology & Infusion Center, Kim said the nurses and doctors were awesome, “Instantaneously everyone was so caring and I knew I meant a lot to everyone there. I never dreaded coming to an appointment”, stated Kim. Kim recalls one time after one of her appointments she stuck around and visited with patients. She became fast friends with many of the patients and some of those friendships have carried through to today. When her first “chemo friend” passed it was so hard. She talked about this cute purse her friend brought with her that was made out of a pair of jeans. Kim had made many comments to her friend that she liked the purse and when she passed away, her friend’s husband hunted Kim down and made sure she got that purse she so admired.
With Kim’s fun positive outlook, she had been asked by one of the nurses to visit with a frightened new patient to help her to not be so fearful. From that encounter another friendship blossomed.
Kim did have a couple of tough weeks in the beginning and lost some 40 pounds. She said she found out how hard her having cancer was on her husband, her caretaker, during that time.
Kim lightened up when asked about her first time walking in the BVRMC A.W.A.R.E. (Annual Walk And Run Event) back in 2010. She said she just poked along but stated it was so neat crossing that finish line and to realize she could do that after treatment. She has walked in the event ever since.
“The A.W.A.R.E. program is neat, they do great things.” She recalled her first December appointment that she received a $20.00 grocery gift card. “It made me feel good”, she said.
There are many reasons to take part in this great event, whether it be in memory of someone or perhaps in support of a family member or friend who has been touched by cancer. “For survivors it is neat to be able to visit with others who have gone through the same things”, Kim said. Plus you are doing it for a great cause. “When participating in this event you feel like you are a part of something big”, she stated.
This year Kim will be standing at the start/finish line holding a sign along with other cancer survivors that simply states “Thank You”. She said she is looking forward to cheering on others who are participating in the A.W.A.R.E. 5K. She recalls last year seeing two survivors doing the same thing and thought to herself, “I need to do this next year.”
Kim says she has retired from 36 years in banking. 6 years at First Federal and the past 30 years at Heritage Bank in Alta. She has taken some time to spend with grandchildren since she has had the summer off. She is not quite done working and is entertaining the idea of part-time work and volunteering.
“It’s been 10 years now and it amazes me when thinking back”, Kim stated. Although she wishes she never heard those words “you have cancer”, she feels this has been a journey, her journey. And some really good things can come out of having an illness.